Sam Mele Fired As Twins' Pilot
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL (AP) - Sam Mele was fired as manager of the Minnesota Twins late today.
A terse announcement by the Twins said President Calvin Griffith had relieved Mele of his duties as manager.
There was no announcement regarding a successor.
Mele, 45, had managed the Twins six years, with only Walter Alston of the Los Angeles Dodgers, showing longer tenure in his present job among major league managers.
The manager of the Twins' Triple-A farm in Denver, Cal Ermer, was named by Griffith to replace Mele. In naming Ermer, Griffith bypassed Billy Martin, peppery Twins coach who was regarded by many as Mele's eventual successor since he was hired as a coach in 1965.
CAL ERMER, TWINS MGR.